Making Presentations Accessible for Colorblind Individuals

As I prepare for my SQL PASS 2009 presentation "Solving the Bill of Materials Problem", I'm trying to make sure I use colors that are visible to people with colorblindness. I've found two tools to help accomplish this. Colorlab available at http://colorlab.wickline.org/colorblind/colorlab/ renders the standard web color palette as seen by people with various color vision deficiencies. Vischeck http://www.vischeck.com/vischeck/vischeckImage.php allows you to upload your own images (e.g., PowerPoint presentation, screen capture of SSMS) and see how they'd appear to people with any of three different types of color vision deficiency. My goal is to have SSMS configured so as many people as possible can easily see the code.

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About John Paul Cook

John Paul Cook is a Technology Solutions Professional for Microsoft's data platform and works out of Microsoft's Houston office. Prior to joining Microsoft, he was a Microsoft SQL Server MVP. He is experienced in Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle database application design, development, and implementation. He has spoken at many conferences including Microsoft TechEd and the SQL PASS Summit. He has worked in oil and gas, financial, manufacturing, and healthcare industries. John is also a Registered Nurse who graduated from Vanderbilt University with a Master of Science in Nursing Informatics and is an active member of the Sigma Theta Tau nursing honor society. He volunteers as a nurse at safety net clinics. Contributing author to SQL Server MVP Deep Dives and SQL Server MVP Deep Dives Volume 2. Opinions expressed in John's blog are strictly his own and do not represent Microsoft in any way. Follow @JohnPaulCook